Small sedans; we don’t really get what they are all about here and they avoid them like Ben Affleck movies in Asian countries (except for China). However, they are VERY popular in the USA and they would seem poised to be The Next Big Thing in Europe.
So does that mean the Mercedes-Benz CLA is a brilliant masterstroke or a potential sadly misjudged dead end. We spent a day with a few of them at the local launch and still aren’t really sure… but it is good though!
What is it?
Based on the small A and B-Class hatches, the CLA is a small FWD sedan that, according to Mercedes-Benz NZ is most definitely NOT a player in the A-Class/1 Series/A3 segment.
So how does that work again? Not sure, but MB are insistent that the CLA is an alternative to the C-Class and BMW 3 Series, so let’s just go with that for now.
A much smaller version of the CLS four-door “coupe”, the CLA is launching in New Zealand in 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol CLA 200 guise at first, but the range will expand to include the feral CLA 45 AMG by next month, with the CLA 250 Sport dropping in February next year.
Starting with the one that is here now, the CLA 200 gets the strong 115kW/250Nm 1.6 petrol four mentioned earlier, hooked up to a seven-speed DCT dual clutch transmission driving through the front wheels.
On the outside, the CLA 200 comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, bi-xenon headlights with integrated LED running lights, LED taillights, tinted glass and dual polished stainless steel exhaust tips.
Inside it comes with Becker Map Pilot navigation with a 5.7-inch display, Artico man-made leather trim and sports seats, a backing camera and front and rear parking sensors, steering wheel shift paddles, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights.
The 200 is also packed with safety tech, boasting systems like Mercedes’ Attention Assist, collision prevention assist, Pre-Safe accident anticipatory system, blind spot assist and nine airbags.
The CLA 200 kicks off the range at $65,900.
Next up – in terms of price, if not arrival date – is the CLA 250 Sport. Gaining a 155kW/350Nm four-cylinder direct injection turbo 2.0-litre engine, the CLA 250 Sport clocks in at $77,900 and also gets the excellent 7-speed DCT transmission.
On top of the CLA 200 spec, the CLA 250 Sport gets a different style of 18-inch wheel, an AMG body kit, red painted brake calipers, darker tints from the b-pillar back, lowered sports suspension, adaptive bi-xenon headlights, different interior trim, electrically adjustable, heated leather front seats, red seat belts and a sports steering wheel.
Then comes the utterly mental CLA 45 AMG.
Packing the same 265kW/450Nm turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine as the just-released A 45 AMG hatch, the CLA 45 AMG is also hooked up to an AMG-tweaked version of the 7-speed DCT trans and Mercedes’ 4matic 4WD system in order to channel all that colossal power onto the road.
The AMG CLA gets 19-inch AMG alloy wheels, an AMG performance braking system, a performance exhaust, sports suspension, the COMAND navigation system with a 7-inch screen, an AMG instrument cluster with Racetimer, AMG leather sports seats and a Harmon Kardon surround sound audio system.
The CLA 45 AMG will cost $107,900 when it lands next month.
What’s it like?
Well, for a RWD BMW 3 Series competitor, the CLA 200 is remarkably like a small FWD hatch to drive. Kind of like the A-Class, really.
Not that is at all a bad thing – as the A-Class is easily one of the best FWD handlers out there – but it probably isn’t what Mercedes wanted to hear. That said, the CLA 200 has a distinctly lower driving position and the 1.6-litre turbo four-potter is a wonderfully eager unit, making it a very engaging drive.
Mercedes say the CLA is lighter than the A-Class it is based on, but to be honest you would probably need to drive them back to back to really notice any advantage this brings to the CLA.
What’s good about it?
Everything that is good about the A-Class, really! It is nimble and sharp, with an eager engine and a great chassis. The interior is nicely laid out and interesting to look at, while the seats are wonderfully supportive and comfortable.
What’s not so good?
The two examples we drove had several rattles in the interior trim, while the ride seemed noticeably firmer than the A-Class, both in the normal and sports suspension set up cars. The navigation hilariously mis-pronounces almost everything and some of the CLS styling cues look a bit odd and misplaced on the smaller car.
First impressions?
If you ignore Mercedes’ insistence that the CLA is an alternative to a C-Class and approach it like a sleeker, sexier, less practical version of the A-Class it actually comes out of it better off.
It possesses all the A-Class’ many, many good points, with very little in the way of downsides, apart from the fact it costs more.
When compared to the likes of a C-Class or 3 Series, it doesn’t do quite so well, however. It really does feel like a small hatch trying to play with its bigger RWD brothers, with slightly lesser build quality and distinctly FWD handling characteristics.
A small FWD hatch can get away with this. So can a small FWD sedan based on that hatch. But a C-Class competitor cannot.
Forget what MBNZ says and treat the CLA like a sleeker version of the A-Class and it is brilliant. For someone wanting to downsize (and downcost, if that is a word…) from a C-Class, but can’t bring themselves to go into a hatch, the CLA is the perfect alternative.
Specifications
Models/prices
CLA 200– $65,900
CLA 250 Sport – $77,900
CLA 45 AMG – $107,900
Powertrain
1.6-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 115kW/250Nm; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; front-wheel drive (CLA 200), 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 155kW/350Nm; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; front-wheel drive (CLA 250 Sport), 2.0-litre inline four-cylinder petrol producing 265kW/450Nm; seven-speed dual-clutch transmission; four-wheel drive (CLA 45 AMG)
Fuel consumption: 5.7l/100km (CLA 200), n/a (CLA 250 Sport), 7.0l/100km (CLA 45 AMG)
CO2 emissions: 133g/km (CLA 200), n/a (CLA 250 Sport), 164g/km (CLA 45 AMG)
Safety
ANCAP/EuroNCAP rating: n/a
Air bags: 9
Stability control: yes
Lap/diagonal belts: 5
